Photos: That Time The Beatles Played To 12 People

I’ve posted a few times on Twitter the story of some band called The Beatles playing The Palais Ballroom, Aldershot, on December 9th, 1961. The Beatles’ then agent, Sam Leach, apparently screwed up and didn’t advertise the show properly—hence the turnout of less than two dozen people in attendance. Sam Leach was replaced by Brian Epstein as their manager after the Aldershot show.

However, according to Beatles’ Source, Sam Leach didn’t screw up, but, “The local newspaper, Aldershot News, neglected to feature Sam Leach’s advertisement for the show.” If this is true, you can’t really blame Leach, but I suppose it’s too late for an apology.